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LAU - I'm a Sunday School teacher here in Brazil.
One of my students asked me some weeks ago during the class about the Restoration. Lesson 3 of D&C. her question:
"The authority of God wasn't on earth after all apostle were killed. We know that after this, the authority of god wasn't on earth anymore.
So what happen with the authority of the 70's received in luke 10?"
JOEL - Here are some relative scriptures:
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come." (Luke 10: 1)
"The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. (D&C 107: 25)
And these seventy are to be the traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews." (D&C 107: 97)
"The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews;
The Twelve being sent out, holding the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews." (107: 33-35)
Jesus gave the original Seventy authority as missionaries to perform their specific assignments, but in our latter days we learn that they are clearly to be under the direction of the twelve Apostles who hold the keys to proclaim the gospel and govern the church. So even though the Seventy were given authority to preach, without the governing keys that the Apostles held, there was no longer the higher authority necessary to lead and direct the entire church in the world.
Also the apostasy was not just a matter of losing priesthood keys and authority of the Apostles; there were others besides the Seventy who also had priesthood in the churches that were set up then (Acts 14: 22-23).
The Apostasy and loss of priesthood authority was also a result of the effects of the false doctrines and unrighteous acts that began to infiltrate the church (Matt 24:5, Acts 20:29-31, 1 Tim 4:1-3). Because of rebellion against the authority and doctrine of the apostles, the early church came to an end less than a century after its formation. Even though there were still Seventies and other priesthood holders after the death of the Apostles, their unrighteous activities and preaching of false doctrines and practices resulted in their priesthood authority to become null and void.
"That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man." (D&C 121: 37)
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